George Hermanson

Emerging Process with Bruce Epperly, June 14-17, 2009

REV. BRUCE EPPERLY, PH.D., is a teacher, spiritual guide, writer, lecturer, retreat leader, and reiki teacher. The author of fifteen books, he is Professor of Practical Theology and Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

He will be at the Madawaska Institute (Ottawa area) June 14-17, 2009, for an event on:

Emerging Process: Theology, Mission, and Spiritual Formation

This series will explore the resources of process and progressive Christianity for post-modern theological reflection, evangelism, worship, theology, and social transformation. The program will integrate theological reflection, personal storytelling, and spiritual practices for personal and congregational transformation.

As well, the United Church of Canada will be having a Worship Matters event in Ottawa on June 18-19-20, 2009. The two events could make a good week long study time.

George Hermanson
www.georgehermanson.com

Mustard Seed

July 27, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

I love these parables. The hearing of them makes us scratch our heads. Ask, what is going on? If we pay attention they stop us in our tracks and make us examine our taken for granted views about life. They ask of us periods of self-reflection and self-criticism. Now such a stance is not always welcomed in our culture. We prefer to be left alone, warmed by our beliefs that reinforce the status quo of privilege. We don’t probe too deeply the taken for granted of "this is natural," or 'how things are," or "given."

The Rush To Judgment

July 20, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Genesis 28:10-19
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 13:24-43
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

One of the most difficult experiences to make sense of is moral outrage. At one level it tells how things have gone wrong, how people have been misused. We see evil and want to do something about it. After all, one of the strengths of the history of the United Church is it is known as a justice seeking church. So we naturally seek to live out of this vision. However, in the process of acting we can discover a part of ourselves that we don’t like. Our moral outrage can become oppressive and draconian. We beat people up and think that we have a corner on the justice market.

A Matter of Perspective

July 13, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Genesis 25:19-34
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

Our church is surrounded by farm land so that experience ought to make both texts seem a bit strange. We ought to wonder about the skill of the sower. No preparation. No concern where the seeds will fall. The sower just goes out and scatters the seeds willy nilly.

Then good old Esau. The New English bible put it this way: “went away without much ado.” Gave up his birthright for a bowl of soup. Gave the farm away on a whim. No care for tomorrow.

Wisdom

July 6, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

I think we have all had an experience like this. We were at some event and make some comments and on the way home we are going through what we said and have a insight of how we could have been more profound. Or we come up with some witty comment that we wish we had said, some brilliant comment that would have summed up all the talking. We are always more brilliant and funny in hindsight. This ability is called self transcendence - the ability to stand outside ourselves. We can do that even in the midst of an event. We seem to be watching ourselves as we encounter others. Another name for this is self reflective - the ability to make oneself an object - an external while having an internal experience. From this emerges our capacity for creativity, freedom and morality.